JP2020181040A - Display device - Google Patents

Abstract

To provide a display device which can detect the absence of normal image adjusting processing.SOLUTION: A display device 100 performs comparison processing of comparing first post-adjustment image data and second post-adjustment image data with each other. The first post-adjustment image data is data which a source driver IC6a acquired by performing image adjustment processing to image data as a processing target. The second post-adjustment image data is data which a source driver IC6b acquired by performing image adjustment processing to image data as a processing target.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 5

Description

The present invention relates to a display device that adjusts image data.

Generally, a liquid crystal display device includes a liquid crystal panel, a circuit board, and a flexible printed circuit board (FPC). The FPC is a member that connects the liquid crystal panel and the circuit board.

The liquid crystal panel includes a pixel area, a gate driver IC (Integrated Circuit), and a source driver IC (hereinafter, also referred to as “S-IC”). The gate driver IC is arranged along the vertical axis in the outer peripheral region of the pixel region. The source driver IC is arranged along the horizontal axis in the outer peripheral region of the pixel region. The gate driver IC controls ON / OFF of a thin film transistor (TFT) of a pixel.

The circuit board includes a timing controller (hereinafter, also referred to as “TCON”), a ROM, an interface connector, a power supply circuit, and a gradation reference voltage generation circuit. The set value is stored in the ROM. TCON performs image adjustment processing on the received image data. The image adjustment process includes a contrast adjustment process, a brightness adjustment process, and a gamma adjustment process. The TCON may output the adjusted data to the source driver.

The liquid crystal display device is used not only for TVs, PC displays, mobile phones, etc., but also for in-vehicle devices, industrial devices, and the like. Safety standards such as ISO 26262 and IEC 61508 have been established for in-vehicle devices and industrial devices. When a liquid crystal display device is used in these products, the liquid crystal display device also has a safety requirement.

For example, when a liquid crystal display device is used as a substitute for a mirror of an in-vehicle device, it is necessary to avoid an afterimage in the display image of the liquid crystal display device. In the liquid crystal display device, it is necessary to monitor whether the source driver IC, the gate driver IC, the timing controller IC, etc. that drive the liquid crystal are operating without any problem.

Further, in a display device such as a liquid crystal display device, it is confirmed by a cyclic redundancy check (CRC) that there is no abnormality in the image data to be displayed. Patent Document 1 discloses a configuration (hereinafter, also referred to as “related configuration A”) for confirming whether or not the image data to be displayed is normal by using a cyclic redundancy check (CRC). ..

Japanese Patent No. 5670117

In the related configuration A, a cyclic redundancy check is performed on the image data before the image adjustment process (for example, image quality adjustment) is performed. Therefore, in the related configuration A, it is not possible to confirm whether or not the image adjustment process is normally performed on the image data. That is, in the related configuration A, there is a problem that it cannot be detected that the image adjustment process is not normally performed on the image data.

The present invention has been made to solve such a problem, and an object of the present invention is to provide a display device capable of detecting that an image adjustment process is not normally performed.

In order to achieve the above object, the display device according to one aspect of the present invention includes a plurality of image adjustment elements that perform image adjustment processing for adjusting image data, and each of the image adjustment elements is the image to be processed. By performing the image adjustment process on the data, the image adjustment element acquires the adjusted image data which is the adjusted image data, and the plurality of image adjustment elements are the first image adjustment element and the second image adjustment element. The display device includes a first adjusted image data which is the adjusted image data acquired by the first image adjusting element when the first image adjusting element performs the image adjusting process, and the display device includes an image adjusting element. When the second image adjusting element performs the image adjusting process, a comparison process is performed to compare the adjusted image data acquired by the second image adjusting element with the second adjusted image data.

According to the present invention, each image adjusting element performs image adjustment processing on the image data to be processed, so that the image adjusting element acquires the adjusted image data which is the adjusted image data.

The display device performs a comparison process for comparing the first adjusted image data and the second adjusted image data. The first adjusted image data is the adjusted image data acquired by the first image adjusting element by performing the image adjusting process on the image data to be processed by the first image adjusting element. Further, the second adjusted image data is the adjusted image data acquired by the second image adjusting element by performing the image adjusting process on the image data to be processed by the second image adjusting element.

When the image adjustment process is normally performed by both the first image adjustment element and the second image adjustment element, the first adjusted image data and the second adjusted image data match. On the other hand, when the image adjustment process is not normally performed by both or one of the first image adjustment element and the second image adjustment element, the first adjusted image data and the second adjusted image data Do not match.

Therefore, it is possible to detect that the image adjustment process is not normally performed by the display device performing the comparison process.

It is a figure which shows roughly the structure of the display device which concerns on Embodiment 1. FIG. It is a figure which shows roughly another configuration of the display device which concerns on Embodiment 1. FIG. It is a figure which shows schematic the circuit structure in the display device which concerns on Embodiment 1. FIG. It is a figure which shows the structure of the display device to which the modified structure m1 is applied. It is a figure which shows the structure about the image adjustment of the source driver IC which concerns on Embodiment 1. FIG. It is a figure which shows the structure of the image adjustment part which concerns on Embodiment 1. FIG. It is a figure for demonstrating the gamma adjustment processing. It is a figure for demonstrating the gamma adjustment processing. It is a figure which shows the pixel area for displaying an image. It is a timing chart for demonstrating the comparison process which concerns on Embodiment 1. FIG. It is a timing chart for demonstrating the comparison process which concerns on modification 2. It is a timing chart for demonstrating the comparison process which concerns on modification 3. It is a figure which shows the structure of the display device which concerns on modification 3. It is a figure which shows the structure of the display device which concerns on modification 4. It is a figure which shows the structure of a part of the display device which concerns on modification 5. It is a figure which shows the structure of a part of the display device to which the modification structure m2 is applied in the modification example 5. It is a figure which shows the partial structure of the display device to which the modification structure m3 is applied in the modification example 5. It is a block diagram which shows the characteristic functional structure of a display device.

Hereinafter, embodiments will be described with reference to the drawings. In the drawings below, the same components are designated by the same reference numerals. The names and functions of the components with the same reference numerals are the same. Therefore, detailed description of a part of each component having the same reference numeral may be omitted.

<Embodiment 1>
Hereinafter, the display device according to the present embodiment will be described. FIG. 1 is a diagram schematically showing the configuration of the display device 100 according to the first embodiment. The display device 100 is, for example, a liquid crystal display device. The display device 100 is not limited to the liquid crystal display device. The display device 100 may be, for example, an organic EL (Electro-Luminescence) display.

With reference to FIG. 1, the display device 100 includes a display panel P1, a circuit board 2, and FPCs 3a and 3b. FPC is an abbreviation for flexible printed circuit board. The display panel P1 is, for example, a liquid crystal panel. The FPCs 3a and 3b are provided in parallel. The FPCs 3a and 3b connect the display panel P1 and the circuit board 2. The circuit board 2 and the FPCs 3a and 3b may be configured as one FPC. In this configuration, the circuit board 2 is composed of FPC.

The display panel P1 includes a pixel area 4, a gate driver IC5, and source drivers ICs 6a and 6b. The pixel area 4 is an area for displaying an image. The display panel P1 displays an image in the pixel area 4. The gate driver IC 5 is arranged along the vertical axis in the outer peripheral region of the pixel region 4. The source drivers ICs 6a and 6b are arranged along the horizontal axis in the outer peripheral region of the pixel region 4.

In the following, the source driver IC will also be referred to as “S-IC”. Each of the source drivers ICs 6a and 6b includes both a source drive function and a timing controller (TCON) function. That is, each of the source driver ICs 6a and 6b is an IC in which the source drive function and the TCON function are integrated. Each of the source drivers ICs 6a and 6b further includes a power supply circuit, a memory and the like. The gate driver IC 5 controls ON / OFF of the TFT provided on the pixel.

The FPCs 3a and 3b are provided at positions corresponding to the source drivers ICs 6a and 6b, respectively. At the above positions, the FPCs 3a and 3b connect the display panel P1 and the circuit board 2.

The circuit board 2 includes an interface connector 7. Further, electronic components (not shown) such as capacitors are mounted on the circuit board 2. An external unit (external device) is connected to the interface connector 7. The circuit board 2 receives various signals (for example, image signals) from the external unit via the interface connector 7. The circuit board 2 transmits the received signal to the source drivers ICs 6a and 6b via the FPCs 3a and 3b.

Further, the circuit board 2 outputs the signals transmitted from the source drivers ICs 6a and 6b to the external unit via the interface connector 7.

The number of source driver ICs, the number of FPCs, and the number of gate driver ICs are not limited to the numbers shown in FIG. For example, the number of source driver ICs may be four. Further, the circuit board and the source driver IC may be connected by one FPC. Further, the number of gate driver ICs may be 2.

Further, a source driver IC or a gate driver IC may be arranged in the FPC. For example, as shown in FIG. 2, the source driver IC6a may be arranged in the FPC3a. Further, the source driver IC6b may be arranged in the FPC3b.

Further, as shown in FIG. 2, the display device 100 may further include an FPC 3c and a circuit board 2c. In this case, the gate driver IC5 may be arranged in the FPC3c. The FPC 3c is connected to, for example, a circuit board 2c. Further, the circuit board 2c may be provided with an interface connector 7c for connecting an external unit (external device).

FIG. 3 is a diagram schematically showing a circuit configuration in the display device 100 according to the first embodiment. With reference to FIG. 3, the source driver IC 6a includes a power supply circuit Pwa, a source drive 101a, and a timing controller 102a. The source driver IC 6b includes a power supply circuit Pwb, a source drive 101b, and a timing controller 102b.

Each of the power supply circuits Pwa and Pwb supplies the voltage used for both or one of the source driver IC6a and the source driver IC6b. Each of the power supply circuits Pwa and Pwb supplies a common voltage Vc, an analog reference voltage Vr, and a gradation voltage Vg.

The common voltage Vc is used as the voltage of the counter electrode (not shown) included in the display panel P1. The analog reference voltage Vr is a voltage for each of the source drives 101a and 101b to be used as an analog reference voltage.

The number of types of analog reference voltage Vr shown in FIG. 3 is 1, but is not limited to this. The number of types of analog reference voltage Vr may be 2. In this case, the power supply circuit (for example, the power supply circuit Pwa) may supply, for example, the analog reference voltage Vr of the positive electrode and the negative electrode.

The common voltage Vc supplied by the power supply circuit (for example, the power supply circuit Pwa) is supplied to the source driver IC (for example, the source driver IC 6a) via the circuit board 2. The analog reference voltage Vr supplied by the power supply circuit (for example, the power supply circuit Pwa) is supplied to the source driver IC (for example, the source driver IC 6a) via the circuit board 2.

The gradation voltage Vg is a voltage that is referred to when D / A conversion is performed on the image data. The gradation voltage Vg has a plurality of voltage levels.

Further, the power supply circuit Pwa supplies the gade drive voltage Vgd. The gade drive voltage Vgd is a voltage for the gate driver IC5. The gade drive voltage Vgd is represented by a positive voltage and a negative voltage. The positive voltage is a voltage indicating a high level when the TFT of the pixel is in the ON state. Further, the negative voltage is a voltage indicating the Low level when the TFT of the pixel is in the OFF state. The gade drive voltage Vgd is supplied to the gate driver IC 5 via the circuit board 2.

Note that FIG. 3 shows a configuration in which the power supply circuit exists only in the source drivers ICs 6a and 6b, but the configuration is not limited to this configuration. For example, the circuit board 2 may be provided with components necessary for generating a voltage used in a coil, a capacitor, or the like.

Further, in FIG. 3, the power supply circuit that supplies the gade drive voltage Vgd to the gate driver IC 5 is the power supply circuit Pwa of the source driver IC 6a, but the power supply circuit is not limited to this. The power supply circuit Pwb of the source driver IC 6b may supply the gade drive voltage Vgd to the gate driver IC 5. Further, the gade drive voltage Vgd may be supplied to the gate driver IC 5 via the circuit board 2 and another FPC.

The source drivers IC6a and 6b receive the same image signal Ps. That is, the timing controllers 102a and 102b receive the same image signal Ps.

The timing controller 102a transmits the image data Gda described later based on the image signal Ps to the source drive 101a. Further, the timing controller 102b transmits the image data Gda described later based on the image signal Ps to the source drive 101b.

The timing controller 102a transmits the horizontal start pulse STH to the source drive 101a. The source drive 101a transmits the received horizontal start pulse STH to the source drive 101b.

In this embodiment, the source driver IC6a operates as a master. Further, the source driver IC6b operates as a slave. Therefore, the master source driver IC6a transmits the vertical start pulse STV to the gate driver IC5. Specifically, the timing controller 102a transmits the vertical start pulse STV to the gate driver IC5.

Further, the timing controller 102a transmits the shift clock signal CLKV, the output control signal OE (Output Enable), and the scan switching logic signal UD to the gate driver IC5. The scan switching logic signal UD is used to switch the scan in the vertical direction.

Further, the timing controller 102a transmits the horizontal scan switching logic signal LR, the liquid crystal application polarity switching signal POL, and the control signal LP to the source drives 101a and 101b. The control signal LP is a signal for controlling the internal latch of the source driver function and the output timing.

The circuit configuration of the display device 100 is not limited to the circuit configuration shown in FIG. For example, the number of source driver ICs, the number of FPCs, the number of gate driver ICs, and the like are not limited to the numbers shown in FIG. For example, the number of source driver ICs included in the display device 100 may be 3 or more.

Further, for example, the power supply circuit may be provided on the circuit board 2 (hereinafter, also referred to as “deformed configuration m1”). FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a configuration of a display device 100 to which the modified configuration m1 is applied. In the modified configuration m1, the power supply circuit Pwc is provided on the circuit board 2. The power supply circuit Pwc supplies the common voltage Vc and the analog reference voltage Vr to the source drivers ICs 6a and 6b. Further, in the modified configuration m1, the power supply circuit Pwc supplies the gade drive voltage Vgd to the gate driver IC5.

Further, in the modified configuration m1, the timing controller 102a transmits the horizontal start pulse STH to the source drive 101a. Further, the timing controller 102b transmits the horizontal start pulse STH to the source drive 101b.

Further, each of the timing controllers 102a and 102b has a function of detecting various abnormalities in the display device 100. The abnormality is, for example, an abnormality of the voltage supplied by the power supply circuit. Further, the abnormality is, for example, an abnormality that the source drive 101a, the source drive 101b, the gate driver IC5, and the like are not operating normally. When an abnormality is detected, the timing controllers 102a and 102b output abnormality signals Ea and Eb, respectively.

The abnormal signals Ea and Eb may be converted into one signal by the circuit provided on the circuit board 2, and the one signal may be output from the interface connector 7.

Further, each of the source drivers ICs 6a and 6b is an image adjusting element having an image adjusting function. Specifically, each of the timing controllers 102a and 102b has an image adjustment function. Each of the source drivers ICs 6a and 6b performs image adjustment processing. Specifically, each of the timing controllers 102a and 102b performs image adjustment processing. Although the details will be described later, the image adjustment process is an image process for adjusting the image data included in the image signals Ps.

Next, the image indicated by the image data will be described. The display device 100 (display panel P1) displays an image. The image is composed of a plurality of pixels. In the following, the size of the image is expressed as "u × v pixels". Each of "u" and "v" is a natural number. “U” is the number of pixels in the horizontal direction of the image. “V” is the number of pixels in the vertical direction of the image.

In the following, red, green and blue are also referred to as "R", "G" and "B", respectively. When the size of the pixel area 4 of the display panel P1 is 1920 × 1080 pixels, the image is composed of 2,073,600 pixels (1920 × 1080).

Further, the color of the pixel is represented by R color, G color and B color. Each of the plurality of pixels constituting the image is represented by, for example, 8 bits for each of the R, G, and B color components. In this case, each pixel is represented by a gradation value (digital value) in the range of 0 to 255.

In the following, the gradation value of the R component of the pixel is also referred to as “gradation value Rv”. Further, in the following, the gradation value of the G component of the pixel is also referred to as “gradation value Gv”. Further, in the following, the gradation value of the B component of the pixel is also referred to as “gradation value Bv”. Each of the plurality of pixels constituting the image is represented by gradation values Rv, Gv, and Bv. The pixel may be represented by R color, G color, B color, and W (white).

In the following, the image data included in the image signals Ps is also referred to as “image data Gd”. Further, in the following, the image indicated by the image data Gd is also referred to as "image G1".

Next, the configuration related to image adjustment in the source drivers ICs 6a and 6b will be described. FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a configuration related to image adjustment of the source drivers ICs 6a and 6b according to the first embodiment. FIG. 5 mainly shows the configurations of the timing controllers 102a and 102b. First, the timing controller 102a will be described.

With reference to FIG. 5, the timing controller 102a includes a receiving unit 11, an image adjusting unit 60, an image data memory M1, an installation value memory 40, a comparison unit 30, an abnormality detecting unit 20, and a CRC unit 10. including.

The image data memory M1 is a FIFO (First-in First-out) format memory. That is, the image data memory M1 is a memory that sequentially outputs image data in the order in which the image data is stored in the image data memory M1.

The abnormality detection unit 20 includes the register R1. The register R1 is a register for storing information (for example, a numerical value). The register R1 is configured so that the external device can access the register R1 from the outside of the display device 100. For example, SPI communication is used to access the register R1.

The receiving unit 11 receives the image signal Ps. The receiving unit 11 transmits the image signal Ps to the CRC 10 and the image adjusting unit 60.

Note that the image signals Ps may become unintended image signals due to noise, disconnection in FPC3a, 3b, and the like. In this case, the display device 100 displays an unintended image.

In order to suppress this problem, a method using a cyclic redundancy check (CRC) is known. This method is the method used in the above-mentioned related configuration A.

In CRC, the following processing is performed. First, the polynomial A is determined in advance in the transmitting side device and the receiving side device. The transmitting device calculates the value C obtained by dividing the transmitting data B by the polynomial A. Then, the transmitting side device adds the value C to the transmitting data B, and transmits the transmitting data B to the receiving side device.

For example, if the original transmission data is composed of 8 bits and the polynomial A is composed of 5 bits, the value C is composed of 4 bits. Therefore, the 0th to 3rd bits of the transmitted data are the remainder values obtained by division. The 4th to 11th bits of the transmitted data are the original transmitted data.

Here, it is assumed that the receiving device receives 12-bit data. In this case, the receiving device confirms whether or not the remainder obtained by dividing the 12-bit data by the polynomial A matches the number consisting of the 0th to 3rd bits of the received data. .. If they match, the receiving device determines that the data is being received normally. In this case, the receiving device uses the 4th to 11th bits of the received data as the image data.

Each CRC unit 10 of the timing controllers 102a and 102b performs CRC on the received image signal Ps. As a result, each of the timing controllers 102a and 102b can confirm whether or not the image data included in the received image signal Ps is normal (intended) image data.

The image adjustment unit 60 performs image adjustment processing. The image adjustment process includes a contrast adjustment process, a brightness adjustment process, and a gamma adjustment process.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing the configuration of the image adjusting unit 60 according to the first embodiment. The image adjusting unit 60 includes a contrast adjusting unit 61, a brightness adjusting unit 62, and a gamma adjusting unit 63. The processing performed by each component included in the image adjusting unit 60 will be described later.

Again, with reference to FIG. 5, the installation value memory 40 stores various parameter values used in the image adjustment process. The installation value memory 40 is a non-volatile memory or a volatile memory.

The configuration of the timing controller 102a is the same as the configuration of the timing controller 102b. Therefore, in order to distinguish the components included in each of the timing controllers 102a and 102b, the reference numerals are defined as follows.

First, the component having a code in which the suffix "a" is added to the code of each component included in the timing controller 102a is defined as the component of the timing controller 102a. For example, the code of the receiving unit specified by the code "11a" in which "a" is added to the code "11" of the receiving unit 11 of the timing controller 102a is "11a".

Therefore, as shown in FIG. 5, the timing controller 102a includes the reception unit 11a, the image adjustment unit 60a, the image data memory M1a, the installation value memory 40a, the comparison unit 30a, the abnormality detection unit 20a, and the CRC unit 10a. And include.

Further, the component having a code in which the suffix "b" is added to the code of each component included in the timing controller 102b is defined as the component of the timing controller 102b. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 5, the timing controller 102b includes a receiving unit 11b, an image adjusting unit 60b, an image data memory M1b, an installation value memory 40b, a comparison unit 30b, an abnormality detection unit 20b, and a CRC unit 10b. And include.

Next, the image adjustment process performed by the timing controller 102a (image adjustment unit 60) will be described. The image adjustment process is performed on the image data Gd included in the image signals Ps. That is, the image adjustment process is performed on the image G1 indicated by the image data Gd.

In the image adjustment process, the contrast adjustment unit 61 performs the contrast adjustment process. The contrast adjustment process is a general image process for adjusting the contrast of an image. In the contrast adjustment process, the contrast between the bright portion of the image and the dark portion of the image is adjusted.

The contrast adjustment process for increasing the contrast is a process for making a bright part brighter and a dark part darker. The contrast adjustment process for weakening the contrast is a process for darkening a bright portion and brightening a dark portion.

For example, it is assumed that the input data is represented by 255 gradations and the median value is 127. In this case, for example, the data is set by the formula expressed by "output data = 127 + (input data-127) x (arbitrary magnification)". The strength of the contrast of the image can be adjusted by setting the intermediate value, the magnification, and the like.

When increasing the contrast of the image, the magnification is set to 1 or more. As a result, the amount of adjustment increases as the value deviates from the intermediate value. Therefore, the contrast between the bright portion of the image and the dark portion of the image becomes large.

In the contrast adjustment process, the parameter value stored in the installation value memory 40 is used. The parameter value is, for example, any of the above-mentioned magnifications.

Next, the brightness adjustment unit 62 performs the brightness adjustment process. The brightness adjustment process is a general image process for adjusting the brightness of an image. In the brightness adjustment process, the output data is adjusted by an expression expressed by, for example, "output data = input data + arbitrary adjustment value". The brightness of the output data is adjusted by adding an arbitrary adjustment value or subtracting an arbitrary adjustment value to the input data.

In the brightness adjustment process, the parameter value stored in the installation value memory 40 is used. The parameter value is, for example, the above-mentioned arbitrary adjustment value.

Next, the gamma adjustment unit 63 performs the gamma adjustment process. The gamma adjustment process is a general image process for performing gamma adjustment on an image. In the gamma adjustment process, the input data (image data) is adjusted so that the color development intensity of the image displayed by the display device 100 is proportional to the value of the input data.

The gamma adjustment process will be described with reference to FIG. The horizontal axis of FIG. 7 is the value of the input data of the image signal. The vertical axis of FIG. 7 shows the value of the output data after gamma adjustment or the intensity of color development. As shown in the characteristic line L1a of FIG. 7, in a liquid crystal display device, the input data and the intensity of color development are usually not proportional to each other.

In the gamma adjustment process, an equation expressed by Y = Xγ is used. X is input data, Y is image data, and γ is a gamma adjustment value. In the gamma adjustment process, the gamma adjustment value of the above equation is adjusted to be 2.2.

In the gamma adjustment process, the gamma adjustment unit 63 adjusts the input data using the gamma adjustment value (1 / 2.2) and outputs the adjusted data (see the characteristic line L1b in FIG. 7). As a result, the relationship between the input data and the color development intensity is proportional (see the characteristic line L1c in FIG. 7).

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing a characteristic line when the gamma adjustment value is 1/3. When the gamma adjustment value is 1/3, the color development is slightly stronger than the result of the gamma adjustment value 2.2 (characteristic line L1c in FIG. 8) (see the characteristic line L2c in FIG. 8). As a result, the displayed image can be brightened as a whole.

In the gamma adjustment process, the parameter value stored in the installation value memory 40 is used. The parameter value is, for example, the above gamma adjustment value.

The above image adjustment processing is performed on the image data Gd included in the image signals Ps. That is, the image adjustment process is performed on the image G1 indicated by the image data Gd. Therefore, for example, contrast adjustment processing, brightness adjustment processing, and gamma adjustment processing are performed on the image data Gd (image G1).

The image adjustment process performed by the timing controller 102b (image adjustment unit 60) is the same as the image adjustment process described above performed by the image adjustment unit 60 of the timing controller 102a.

In the following, the image G1 changed by performing the image adjustment processing on the image data Gd (image G1) is also referred to as “image G1a”. Further, in the following, the data indicating the image G1a is also referred to as "image data Gda".

The image data Gda is adjusted image data (hereinafter, also referred to as “adjusted image data”) obtained by executing the image adjustment process. That is, the adjusted image data is data obtained by performing image adjustment processing on the image data Gd to be processed.

The source driver IC 6a (image adjustment unit 60a) performs image adjustment processing on the image data Gd to be processed, so that the source driver IC 6a acquires the adjusted image data. Further, the source driver IC 6b (image adjustment unit 60b) performs image adjustment processing on the image data Gd to be processed, so that the source driver IC 6b acquires the adjusted image data.

In the above, the process of adjusting the image based on the gamma adjustment value is shown. On the other hand, a process of setting arbitrary output data may be performed on the input data. In this process, for example, when the input data is 0, the output data is set to 0. Further, in the process, for example, when the input data is 1, the output data is set to 2. This enables finer image adjustment.

The contents of the contrast adjustment processing, the brightness adjustment processing, and the gamma adjustment processing may be other than the above contents. Further, in the image adjustment processing, only a part of the contrast adjustment processing, the brightness adjustment processing, and the gamma adjustment processing may be performed. In the image adjustment process, for example, only the contrast adjustment process and the brightness adjustment process may be performed.

Further, the processing performed in the image adjustment processing is not limited to the contrast adjustment processing, the brightness adjustment processing, and the gamma adjustment processing. The processing performed in the image adjustment processing may be image processing other than the contrast adjustment processing, the brightness adjustment processing, and the gamma adjustment processing. Further, the execution order of the contrast adjustment process, the brightness adjustment process, and the gamma adjustment process performed in the image adjustment process may be different from the above-described order.

The image adjustment unit 60 acquires the image data Gda, which is the adjusted image data, by performing the image adjustment process. The image adjustment unit 60 stores the acquired image data Gda in the image data memory M1. The image data Gda stored in the image data memory M1 is transmitted to the source drive 101a and the comparison unit 30.

As described above, the timing controller 102a (image adjustment unit 60) performs image adjustment processing on the image data Gd included in the image signal Ps. Therefore, the image data Gd included in the image signal Ps and the image data Gda as the adjusted image data are different.

As described above, various parameter values used in the image adjustment process are stored in the installation value memory 40. Therefore, when the following situations occur, unintended image adjustment is performed, and the image displayed by the display device 100 becomes an unintended image.

In this situation, for example, erroneous data is stored when the parameter value is stored in the installation value memory 40. Further, in this situation, for example, the parameter value changes due to the influence of noise or the like. Further, the situation is, for example, a situation in which the image adjustment unit 60 of the timing controller 102a fails and the image adjustment unit 60 does not operate normally.

As described above, it is necessary to confirm whether or not the intended adjusted image data (image data Gda) is obtained in the display device 100 that performs the image adjustment processing. Therefore, a process for detecting an abnormality (hereinafter, also referred to as an “abnormality detection process”) in a situation where the image adjustment process is performed will be described.

Here, the control of the source drivers IC6a and 6b will be described. FIG. 9 is a diagram showing a pixel area 4 for displaying an image. The size of the pixel region 4 is, for example, 1920 × 1080 pixels. The pixel area 4 includes areas 4a and 4b. The area 4a is an area controlled by the source driver IC6a (source drive 101a). The area 4b is an area controlled by the source driver IC 6b (source drive 101b).

Each of the source drivers ICs 6a and 6b controls the source voltage. Specifically, each of the source drives 101a and 101b controls the source voltage. That is, each of the source drives 101a and 101b is a source control unit.

The source voltage is a voltage for the display device 100 to display an image based on the above-mentioned adjusted image data. A plurality of source lines (not shown) are provided in the pixel region 4. Specifically, the source voltage is the voltage applied to each source line.

Here, the color of the pixel is represented by R color, G color, and B color. Therefore, each of the source drives 101a and 101b controls the source voltage applied to the source line (not shown) in the 2880 column. 2880 is a value calculated by the formula of "1920 × 3/2".

By the above method, the source driver IC 6a (source drive 101a) controls the area 4a. That is, the source drive 101a controls (controls the source voltage) for displaying the left half of the image. Further, the source driver IC 6b (source drive 101b) controls the area 4b by the above method. That is, the source drive 101b controls (controls the source voltage) for displaying the right half of the image.

Next, the abnormality detection process will be described with reference to FIG. The vertical axis of FIG. 10 shows the reference numerals of the respective components. The "output" in FIG. 10 corresponds to the output (control) of the source driver IC. The horizontal axis of FIG. 10 indicates time. In the following, the above-mentioned image adjustment process for display performed by the image adjustment unit 60 is also referred to as “display image adjustment process”. Further, in the following, the above-mentioned image adjustment process for comparison performed by the image adjustment unit 60 is also referred to as "comparison image adjustment process".

The display image adjustment process or the comparison image adjustment process is performed on, for example, one line of image data Gd. The image data Gd for one line to be subjected to the display image adjustment process or the comparison image adjustment process is not input at the same time, but is input in order.

The target to which the display image adjustment process or the comparison image adjustment process is performed is not limited to the image data Gd for one line. The target to which the display image adjustment process or the comparison image adjustment process is performed may be, for example, the image data Gd corresponding to all the lines.

In the present embodiment, as an example, the source driver IC 6a (image adjustment unit 60a) performs the display image adjustment processing, and then the source driver IC 6b (image adjustment unit 60b) performs the display image adjustment processing.

When the image adjustment unit 60a performs the display image adjustment process, the image adjustment unit 60a acquires the adjusted image data (hereinafter, also referred to as “adjusted image data D1a”). That is, the source driver IC 6a (image adjustment unit 60a) performs the display image adjustment process, so that the source driver IC 6a acquires the adjusted image data D1a. That is, the adjusted image data D1a is the adjusted image data acquired by the source driver IC6a when the source driver IC6a (image adjusting unit 60a) performs the image adjustment processing. The adjusted image data D1a is the image data Gda.

Then, the image adjustment unit 60a stores the acquired adjusted image data D1a in the image data memory M1a (see FIGS. 5 and 10). Further, the timing controller 102a transmits the adjusted image data D1a as the image data Gda stored in the image data memory M1a to the source drive 101a.

Further, when the image adjustment unit 60b performs the display image adjustment process, the image adjustment unit 60b acquires the adjusted image data (hereinafter, also referred to as “adjusted image data D1b”). That is, when the source driver IC 6b (image adjustment unit 60b) performs the display image adjustment process, the source driver IC 6b acquires the adjusted image data D1b. The adjusted image data D1b is the image data Gda.

Then, the image adjustment unit 60b stores the acquired adjusted image data D1b in the image data memory M1b (see FIGS. 5 and 10). Further, the timing controller 102b transmits the adjusted image data D1b as the image data Gda stored in the image data memory M1b to the source drive 101b.

In the following, the period during which the source driver IC6a (image adjustment unit 60a) is performing the display image adjustment processing is also referred to as “period T1a” or “T1a”. Further, in the following, the period during which the source driver IC6b (image adjustment unit 60b) is performing the display image adjustment processing is also referred to as “period T1b” or “T1b”. The period T1a and the period T1b are periods that do not overlap each other. That is, the period T1a and the period T1b do not overlap each other on the time axis.

In the period T1a, the source driver IC6b (image adjustment unit 60b) performs a comparison image adjustment process for acquiring the adjusted image data. The adjusted image data is image data for the source driver IC 6a (image adjusting unit 60a) to use in the comparison process A described later.

When the image adjustment unit 60b performs the comparison image adjustment process, the image adjustment unit 60b acquires the adjusted image data (hereinafter, also referred to as “adjusted image data D2b”). That is, the adjusted image data D2b is the adjusted image data acquired by the source driver IC 6b when the source driver IC 6b (image adjusting unit 60b) performs the comparison image adjustment process. The adjusted image data D2b is the image data Gda.

The adjusted image data D2b is the same data as the adjusted image data D1b. The adjusted image data D1b and D2b have different codes because the transmission destinations are different.

Then, the image adjustment unit 60b stores the acquired adjusted image data D2b in the image data memory M1b (see FIGS. 5 and 10). The source driver IC6b transmits the adjusted image data D2b stored in the image data memory M1b to the comparison unit 30a of the source driver IC6a. As a result, the source driver IC 6a (comparison unit 30a) acquires the adjusted image data D2b from the source driver IC 6b.

Further, in the period T1b, the source driver IC6a (image adjustment unit 60a) performs a comparison image adjustment process for acquiring the adjusted image data. The adjusted image data is image data for the source driver IC 6b (image adjusting unit 60b) to use in the comparison process A described later.

When the image adjustment unit 60a performs the comparison image adjustment process, the image adjustment unit 60a acquires the adjusted image data (hereinafter, also referred to as “adjusted image data D2a”). The adjusted image data D2a is the image data Gda.

The adjusted image data D2a is the same data as the adjusted image data D1a. Since the transmission destinations of the adjusted image data D1a and D2a are different, different codes are attached.

Then, the image adjustment unit 60a stores the acquired adjusted image data D2a in the image data memory M1a (see FIGS. 5 and 10). The source driver IC6a transmits the adjusted image data D2a stored in the image data memory M1a to the comparison unit 30b of the source driver IC6b. As a result, the source driver IC6b (comparison unit 30b) acquires the adjusted image data D2a from the source driver IC6a.

In addition, for example, a bidirectional signal or a unidirectional signal is used to transmit and receive the adjusted image data between the source drivers ICs 6a and 6b. Further, a serial signal or a parallel signal may be used to transmit and receive the adjusted image data. Further, in order to suppress the influence of noise, error error correction such as CRC may be performed.

The source drivers ICs 6a and 6b (image adjustment units 60a and 60b) perform image adjustment processing on the same image data Gd included in the image signals Ps by using the same parameter values. Therefore, when the parameter value is normal and the image adjustment process is performed normally, the adjusted image data D1a, D1b, D2a, and D2b become the same data.

Further, each of the source driver IC6a and the source driver IC6b performs the comparison process A. Specifically, each of the comparison unit 30a and the comparison unit 30b performs the comparison process A.

The comparison unit 30a of the source driver IC 6a performs a comparison process A for comparing the adjusted image data D1a with the adjusted image data D2b. Each of the adjusted image data D1a and the adjusted image data D2b compared in the comparison process A is data obtained by performing the same image adjustment process on the same image data Gd.

The adjusted image data is sequentially stored in each of the image data memories M1a and M1b. Therefore, the comparison unit 30a sequentially performs the comparison process A in the image data memory M1a from the stored adjusted image data.

When the result of the comparison process A is that the adjusted image data D1a and the adjusted image data D2b do not match, the display device 100 (comparison unit 30a) indicates that an abnormality has occurred in the display device 100. judge. That is, the comparison unit 30a detects an abnormality. In this case, the comparison unit 30a transmits an abnormality occurrence notification to the abnormality detection unit 20a. The abnormality occurrence notification is a notification indicating that an abnormality has occurred in the display device 100.

When it is determined that an abnormality has occurred, the display device 100 outputs an abnormality signal. Specifically, when the abnormality detection unit 20a receives the abnormality occurrence notification, the abnormality detection unit 20a outputs the abnormality signal Ea (see FIG. 5). When the abnormality detection unit 20a receives the abnormality occurrence notification, the abnormality detection unit 20a (display device 100) stores "1" in the register R1. “1” is information indicating that an abnormality has occurred. Note that "0" is stored in the register R1 in the initial state. “0” is information indicating that no abnormality has occurred.

As described above, the register R1 is configured so that the external device (not shown) can access the register R1 from the outside of the display device 100. For example, SPI communication is used to access the register R1. As a result, it is possible to determine whether or not an abnormality has occurred based on the value stored in the register R1.

A communication means other than SPI communication may be used to access the register R1. Further, the register R1 may store the value of the image data at the time of abnormality detection, the number of times of abnormality detection, and the like. The occurrence of an abnormality can be detected by the configuration using the abnormality signal and the configuration using the register R1. The display device 100 may include only one of the above two configurations.

The source driver IC 6b also performs the same processing as the above processing in the source driver IC 6a. Hereinafter, the processing in the source driver IC6b will be briefly described. For example, the comparison unit 30b of the source driver IC 6b performs a comparison process A for comparing the adjusted image data D1b and the adjusted image data D2a.

When the result of the comparison process A is that the adjusted image data D1b and the adjusted image data D2a do not match, the comparison unit 30b determines that an abnormality has occurred in the display device 100.

When it is determined that an abnormality has occurred, the abnormality detection unit 20b outputs an abnormality signal Eb. When it is determined that an abnormality has occurred, the abnormality detection unit 20b stores "1" in the register R1. The above processing is the processing in the source driver IC6b.

The display device 100 repeats the above comparison process A. That is, each of the source drivers ICs 6a and 6b repeats the comparison process A. Specifically, the comparison process A is repeatedly performed on the adjusted image data corresponding to all the lines from the first line to the final line of the image data.

As described above, according to the present embodiment, the display device 100 performs the comparison process A for comparing the first adjusted image data and the second adjusted image data. The first adjusted image data is the adjusted image data acquired by the source driver IC6a when the source driver IC6a performs image adjustment processing on the image data to be processed. The second adjusted image data is the adjusted image data acquired by the source driver IC 6b when the source driver IC 6b performs image adjustment processing on the image data to be processed.

When the image adjustment process is normally performed by both the source driver IC 6a and the source driver IC 6b, the first adjusted image data and the second adjusted image data match. On the other hand, when the image adjustment process is not normally performed by both or one of the source driver IC6a and the source driver IC6b, the first adjusted image data and the second adjusted image data do not match.

Therefore, when the display device 100 performs the comparison process A, it can be detected that the image adjustment process is not normally performed. That is, it is possible to detect an abnormality in the adjusted image data (image data after image adjustment) as an image adjustment result.

In the related configuration A, the display device confirms that there is no abnormality in the received image data by CRC or the like. However, in the related configuration A, when the display device performs image adjustment processing on the image data and an abnormality occurs in the adjusted image data due to the following defect A, the abnormality is detected. I can't. The image adjustment process includes the above-mentioned contrast adjustment process, brightness adjustment process, gamma adjustment process, and the like.

The defect A is, for example, a defect that a setting error exists. Further, the defect A is a defect that an abnormality exists in the parameter value used for the image adjustment processing due to, for example, the influence of noise or the like. Further, the defect A is, for example, a defect that the circuit in the display device is out of order.

Therefore, there is a problem that the display device or the system including the display device cannot detect the abnormality of the displayed image and may provide erroneous information to the user.

Therefore, the display device 100 of the present embodiment has a configuration for achieving the above effects. Therefore, the display device 100 of the present embodiment can solve each of the above problems.

<Modification example 1>
This modification is applied to the first embodiment. In the first embodiment, if the result of the comparison process A is that the two adjusted image data do not match once, it is determined that an abnormality has occurred, but the present invention is not limited to this. In the following, the result that the two adjusted image data do not match as a result of the comparison process A is also referred to as a “mismatch result”.

In this modified example, when a plurality of mismatch results occur, it is determined that an abnormality has occurred. Specifically, when the comparison process A is repeatedly performed and a plurality of results that the two adjusted image data to be compared do not match occur, the display device 100 (comparison unit 30) causes the display device 100 to display the data. Judge that an abnormality has occurred.

For example, it is assumed that the comparison unit 30a of the source driver IC 6a repeatedly performs the comparison process A. In this case, when the result of the comparison process A is that the adjusted image data D1a and D2b do not match a predetermined number of times, the comparison unit 30a determines that an abnormality has occurred in the display device 100. The predetermined number of times is, for example, two or more times.

Further, for example, if a plurality of mismatch results occur during the period in which the data corresponding to all the lines from the first line to the final line of the image data are output, the comparison unit 30a causes an abnormality in the display device 100. It may be determined that it is. When it is determined that an abnormality has occurred, for example, the display device 100 (abnormality detection unit 20a) may output the abnormality signal Ea.

<Modification 2>
This modification is applied to all or a part of the first embodiment and the first modification. In the first embodiment, the entire adjusted image data (image data) is targeted for comparison. In this configuration, for example, there are problems such as an increase in power consumption of the source driver IC and heat generation of the source driver IC.

Therefore, in this modification, a part of the adjusted image data (image data) is targeted for comparison. For example, the comparison unit 30a of the source driver IC6a performs a comparison process A for comparing a part of the adjusted image data D1a with a part of the adjusted image data D2b.

FIG. 11 is an example of a timing chart in this modified example. Since the reference numerals of the components of FIG. 11 are the same as those of FIG. 10, the description thereof will be omitted.

In this modification, for example, a part of the adjusted image data corresponding to the first pixel of each line is the target of comparison. Further, for example, a part of the adjusted image data corresponding to the first pixel of each source driver IC is targeted for comparison. Further, for example, of all the adjusted image data corresponding to all the lines of the image data, only the adjusted image data corresponding to the first line is the target of comparison.

Here, it is assumed that the refresh rate of the display device 100 is 60 Hz. The refresh rate corresponds to the image update interval. In this case, the abnormality can be detected within 16.6 milliseconds even by comparing a part of the image data.

<Modification example 3>
This modification is applied to all or a part of the first embodiment, the first modification, and the second modification. In this modification, the display device performs the comparison process A while the display device 100 is not performing the image adjustment process. For example, during the period when each of the source drivers ICs 6a and 6b is not performing the image adjustment processing, the source drivers ICs 6a and 6b (comparison units 30a and 30b) perform the comparison processing A.

FIG. 12 is a timing chart for explaining the comparison process according to the modified example 3. Since the reference numerals of the components of FIG. 12 are the same as those of FIG. 10, the description thereof will be omitted. In this modification, for example, the comparison process A is performed between the lines. Between the lines corresponds to the period between the two processes corresponding to each of the two lines.

In this way, during the period when the display device 100 is not performing the image adjustment process, the display device (comparison unit 30) performs the comparison process A. As a result, it is possible to reduce the power consumption of the display device 100, the heat generation of the display device 100, and the like.

When the image data memory M1 is a FIFO memory, the image data is sequentially output and the output data is overwritten. Therefore, it may not be possible to compare the image data at an arbitrary timing.

Therefore, in this modification, a comparison data memory may be provided in addition to the image data memory M1. FIG. 13 is a diagram showing the configuration of the display device 100 according to the third modification. As an example, the configuration of FIG. 13 is a configuration in which the modification 3 is applied to the display device 100 of FIG. 5 in the first embodiment.

With reference to FIG. 13, in this modification, the source driver IC 6a further includes a comparison data memory 15a. In addition, the source driver IC 6b further includes a comparison data memory 15b.

The adjusted image data D1a and D2a used for the comparison process A are stored in the comparison data memory 15a. The adjusted image data D1b and D2b used for the comparison process A are stored in the comparison data memory 15b.

As a result, the comparison process A can be performed at an arbitrary timing during the period when the image adjustment process is not performed. Further, as a period during which the image adjustment process is not performed, for example, the comparison process A can be performed between the lines in the horizontal direction.

<Modification example 4>
This modification is applied to all or a part of the first embodiment, the first modification, the second modification, and the third modification. In this modification, in the comparison process A, the parameter values are compared in addition to the image data comparison.

FIG. 14 is a diagram showing the configuration of the display device 100 according to the modified example 4. As an example, the configuration of FIG. 14 is a configuration in which the modification 4 is applied to the display device 100 of FIG. 5 in the first embodiment.

In the following, the parameter value used by the source driver IC6a (image adjustment unit 60a) to perform the image adjustment process is also referred to as a “first parameter value”. The first parameter value is stored in the installation value memory 40a. Further, in the following, the parameter value used by the source driver IC6b (image adjustment unit 60b) to perform the image adjustment process is also referred to as a “second parameter value”. The second parameter value is stored in the installation value memory 40b.

In the following, the process of comparing the first parameter value and the second parameter value is also referred to as “comparison process P”. The comparison process A of this modification includes the comparison process P.

Therefore, in this modification, the display device 100 performs the comparison process A including the comparison process P for comparing the first parameter value and the second parameter value. The comparison process A of this modification includes a process of comparing two adjusted image data and a comparison process P. The process of comparing the two adjusted image data is the same as that of the first embodiment.

In this modification, both or one of the source driver IC6a and the source driver IC6b performs the comparison process A (comparison process P). Specifically, both or one of the comparison unit 30a and the comparison unit 30b performs the comparison process A (comparison process P).

For example, the comparison unit 30a performs a comparison process P for comparing the first parameter value and the second parameter value. When the result of the comparison process P is that the first parameter value and the second parameter value do not match, the display device 100 (comparison unit 30a) determines that an abnormality has occurred in the display device 100. ..

Normally, the parameter value (set value) stored in the non-volatile memory is copied to the volatile memory, and the comparison process P is performed. In the comparison process P, the parameter values of both the non-volatile memory and the volatile memory may be compared.

<Modification 5>
This modification is applied to all or a part of the first embodiment, the first modification, the second modification, the third modification, and the fourth modification. In this modification, the comparison process A is performed using the data registers described later included in the source drive.

Each of the source drives 101a and 101b has a function of performing D / A conversion. Although the details will be described later, for example, the source drive 101a performs D / A conversion on the digital value indicated by the image data Gda (adjusted image data) received from the timing controller 102a.

FIG. 15 is a diagram showing a partial configuration of the display device 100 according to the modified example 5. Note that FIG. 15 shows the main configuration of the display device 100 according to the modified example 5.

In this modification, the source drive 101a includes a data register 71a, a D / A conversion unit 72a, and an output unit 73a.

The output unit 73a outputs the source voltage. As described above, the source voltage is a voltage for the display device 100 to display an image based on the adjusted image data described above. In the following, the source voltage is also referred to as “source voltage Vs” or “Vs”.

Further, the source drive 101b includes a data register 71b, a D / A conversion unit 72b, and an output unit 73b. The data register 71b, the D / A conversion unit 72b, and the output unit 73b perform the same processing as the data register 71a, the D / A conversion unit 72a, and the output unit 73a, respectively.

Next, as the processing in this modification, the processing in the source drive 101a will be mainly described. In this modification, the timing controller 102a transmits the above-mentioned adjusted image data D1a and D2a as the image data Gda to the source drive 101a. The adjusted image data D1a and D2a are the data described in the first embodiment.

The source drive 101a stores the image data Gda (adjusted image data D1a, D2a) received from the timing controller 102a in the data register 71a. The state of the image data Gda (adjusted image data D1a, D2a) stored in the data register 71a is a state in which horizontal scan switching, liquid crystal application polarity, and the like are taken into consideration. The image data Gda (adjusted image data D1a) is transmitted to the D / A conversion unit 72a.

Next, the D / A conversion unit 72a performs D / A conversion on the digital value indicated by the image data Gda. D / A conversion is a process of converting a digital value into an analog value. Then, the output unit 73a outputs the source voltage Vs based on the D / A converted image data Gda.

The data register 71a also stores image data Gda that is not output as the source voltage Vs. For example, the image data Gda output by the source drive 101b is also stored in the data register 71a.

Further, in this modification, the source drive 101a transmits the adjusted image data D2a stored in the data register 71a to the comparison unit 30b of the source driver IC6b. The source drive 101b also performs the same processing as the above processing in the source drive 101a. As a result, the source drive 101b transmits the adjusted image data D2b stored in the data register 71b to the comparison unit 30a of the source driver IC6a.

Then, in this modification, both or one of the source driver IC6a and the source driver IC6b performs the comparison process A. Specifically, both or one of the comparison unit 30a and the comparison unit 30b performs the comparison process A as in the first embodiment. The two adjusted image data to be compared in the comparison process A indicate digital values that have not been subjected to D / A conversion.

Therefore, in this modification, each of the comparison unit 30a and the comparison unit 30b performs the comparison process A using the digital values that have not been subjected to the D / A conversion. In addition, only one of the comparison unit 30a and the comparison unit 30b may perform the comparison process A.

Further, for example, when the result of the comparison process A is a mismatch result, the display device 100 (comparison unit 30) determines that an abnormality has occurred in the display device 100. In this case, the display device 100 (abnormality detection units 20a and 20b) outputs the abnormality signals Ea and Eb as in the first embodiment. Further, the abnormality detection units 20a and 20b store "1" in the register R1 as in the first embodiment.

In this modification, the configuration may include a comparison data memory in addition to the image data memory M1 (hereinafter, also referred to as “transformation configuration m2”). FIG. 16 is a diagram showing a partial configuration of the display device 100 to which the modified configuration m2 is applied in the modified example 5. In the modified configuration m2 of this modification, the source drive 101a further includes a comparison data register 74a. The source drive 101b further includes a comparison data register 74b.

In the modified configuration m2 of this modification, the adjusted image data D1a and D2a used for the comparison process A are stored in the comparison data register 74a. Further, the comparison data register 74b stores the adjusted image data D1b and D2b used for the comparison process A. The above-mentioned comparison process A is also performed in the modified configuration m2 of this modified example.

Further, in this modification, the source drive may be configured to perform the comparison process A (hereinafter, also referred to as “transformation configuration m3”). In the modified configuration m3, a comparison unit is provided in the source drive instead of the timing controller.

FIG. 17 is a diagram showing a partial configuration of the display device 100 to which the modified configuration m3 is applied in the modified example 5. With reference to FIG. 17, in the modified configuration m3, the comparison unit 30a is provided in the source drive 101a instead of the timing controller 102a. Further, in the modified configuration m3, the comparison unit 30b is provided in the source drive 101b instead of the timing controller 102b.

Further, in the modified configuration m3 of the present modification, the source drive 101a transmits the adjusted image data D2a stored in the data register 71a to the comparison unit 30b of the source drive 101b. The source drive 101b also performs the same processing as the above processing in the source drive 101a. As a result, the source drive 101b transmits the adjusted image data D2b stored in the data register 71b to the comparison unit 30a of the source drive 101a.

Then, in the modified configuration m3, both or one of the source driver IC6a and the source driver IC6b performs the comparison process A. Specifically, both or one of the source drive 101a (comparison unit 30a) and the source drive 101b (comparison unit 30b) performs the comparison process A in the same manner as in the first embodiment. The two adjusted image data to be compared in the comparison process A indicate digital values that have not been subjected to D / A conversion.

Therefore, in the modified configuration m3 of this modification, each of the source drive 101a (comparison unit 30a) and the source drive 101b (comparison unit 30b) uses digital values that have not been subjected to D / A conversion. The comparison process A is performed. In addition, only one of the comparison unit 30a and the comparison unit 30b may perform the comparison process A.

As described above, according to this modification, the image data (adjusted image data) before the D / A conversion is performed in the source drive is used. This makes it possible to compare two image data (adjusted image data) in a state in which horizontal scan switching, liquid crystal application polarity, and the like are taken into consideration.

(Functional block diagram)
FIG. 18 is a block diagram showing a characteristic functional configuration of the display device BL10. The display device BL10 corresponds to the display device 100. That is, FIG. 18 is a block diagram showing the main functions related to the present technology among the functions of the display device BL10.

The display device BL10 includes a plurality of image adjustment elements that perform image adjustment processing for adjusting image data.

Each of the image adjusting elements performs the image adjustment processing on the image data to be processed, so that the image adjusting element acquires the adjusted image data which is the adjusted image data.

The plurality of image adjusting elements include a first image adjusting element BL1 and a second image adjusting element BL2. The first image adjusting element BL1 corresponds to the source driver IC6a. The second image adjusting element BL2 corresponds to the source driver IC6b.

The display device BL10 includes the first adjusted image data, which is the adjusted image data acquired by the first image adjusting element BL1 when the first image adjusting element BL1 performs the image adjusting process, and the second image adjusting element. When the BL2 performs the image adjustment processing, the comparison processing is performed to compare the adjusted image data acquired by the second image adjusting element BL2 with the second adjusted image data.

(Other variants)
It should be noted that, within the scope of the present invention, embodiments and modifications can be freely combined, and embodiments and modifications can be appropriately modified or omitted.

For example, the display device 100 may not include all the components shown in the figure. That is, the display device 100 may include only the minimum components that can realize the effect of the present technology.

Further, the present technology may be realized as a comparison control method in which the operation of a characteristic component included in the display device 100 is a step. Further, the present technology may be realized as a program for causing a computer to execute each step included in such a comparison control method. Further, the present technology may be realized as a computer-readable recording medium for storing such a program. Further, the program may be distributed via a transmission medium such as the Internet.

In addition, all the numerical values used in the above-described embodiment or each modification are numerical values of an example for concretely explaining the present technology. That is, the present technology is not limited to the numerical values used in the above-described embodiment or each modification.

6a, 6b source driver IC, 30, 30a, 30b comparison unit, 60, 60a, 60b image adjustment unit, 100, BL10 display device, 101a, 101b source drive, BL1 first image adjustment element, BL2 second image adjustment element.

Claims (14)

It ’s a display device,
Equipped with multiple image adjustment elements that perform image adjustment processing that adjusts image data
Each of the image adjusting elements performs the image adjusting process on the image data to be processed, so that the image adjusting element acquires the adjusted image data which is the adjusted image data.
The plurality of image adjusting elements include a first image adjusting element and a second image adjusting element.
In the display device, the first adjusted image data, which is the adjusted image data acquired by the first image adjusting element when the first image adjusting element performs the image adjusting process, and the second image adjusting element. Performs the image adjustment process to compare the adjusted image data acquired by the second image adjusting element with the second adjusted image data.
Display device. Each of the first image adjusting element and the second image adjusting element includes a source control unit that controls a source voltage which is a voltage for the display device to display an image based on the adjusted image data.
The display device according to claim 1. The source control unit has a function of performing D / A conversion on the digital value indicated by the adjusted image data.
The source control unit performs the comparison process using the digital value that has not been subjected to the D / A conversion.
The display device according to claim 2. When the result of the comparison processing is that the image data after the first adjustment and the image data after the second adjustment do not match, the display device determines that an abnormality has occurred in the display device. ,
The display device according to any one of claims 1 to 3. The display device repeatedly performs the comparison process,
When a plurality of results that the first adjusted image data and the second adjusted image data do not match are generated by repeating the comparison process, the display device causes an abnormality in the display device. Judge that
The display device according to any one of claims 1 to 3. When it is determined that an abnormality has occurred, the display device outputs an abnormality signal.
The display device according to claim 4 or 5. The display device further
Equipped with registers for storing information
When it is determined that an abnormality has occurred, the display device stores information indicating that an abnormality has occurred in the register.
The display device according to any one of claims 4 to 6. The display device according to claim 7, wherein the register is configured so that the external device can access the register from the outside of the display device. The display device performs the comparison process of comparing a part of the first adjusted image data with a part of the second adjusted image data.
The display device according to any one of claims 1 to 8. The display device includes a first parameter value used by the first image adjusting element to perform the image adjustment process and a second parameter value used by the second image adjusting element to perform the image adjustment process. The display device according to any one of claims 1 to 9, wherein the comparison process is performed including the process of comparing the above. When the first image adjusting element performs the image adjusting process, the first image adjusting element acquires the image data after the first adjustment.
The first image adjusting element acquires the second adjusted image data from the second image adjusting element.
When the second image adjusting element performs the image adjusting process, the second image adjusting element acquires the image data after the second adjustment.
The second image adjusting element acquires the first adjusted image data from the first image adjusting element.
The display device according to any one of claims 1 to 10. Each of the first image adjusting element and the second image adjusting element performs the comparison process.
The display device according to any one of claims 1 to 11. In the first period in which the first image adjusting element is performing the image adjusting process, the second image adjusting element is the second adjusted image data for the first image adjusting element to use in the comparison process. Perform the image adjustment process to obtain
In the second period in which the second image adjusting element is performing the image adjusting process, the first image adjusting element uses the first adjusted image data for the second image adjusting element to use in the comparison process. Perform the image adjustment process to obtain
The first period and the second period are periods that do not overlap each other.
The display device according to claim 12. During the period when the display device does not perform the image adjustment process, the display device performs the comparison process.
The display device according to any one of claims 1 to 13.

Images